French Conversation · Level 113
59 words
French word
silencieusement
Pronunciation
IPA/silɑ̃sjøzəmɑ̃/
Meaning
- adverbsilently
Example
Il est entré silencieusement dans la chambre.
He entered the room silently.
More examples
Le chat marche silencieusement dans le couloir.
The cat walks silently in the hallway.
Core concept
A quiet movement that leaves no audible trace, such as entering a room without a sound.
Common phrases
entrer silencieusement
enter silently
marcher silencieusement
walk silently
Similar words
discrètement: Acting carefully to avoid being noticed by others.
sans bruit: Doing something with absolutely no noise.
doucement: Doing something gently, with little noise or force.
Definition in French
De façon à ne pas émettre de bruit, en restant silencieux dans ses gestes ou ses mouvements.
Word origin
The French adverb combines silencieux, meaning silent or quiet, with -ment, while silencieux ultimately comes from the Latin root silere, 'to be silent'.
Usage tips
- Silencieusement emphasizes the absence of sound, whereas discrètement can emphasize avoiding notice even when no silence is involved.
Other meanings
- quietlyadverb
- noiselesslyadverb
Opposites
- bruyammentloudlyadverb
Related words
- silencieuxsilentadjective
- silencesilencenoun